So most of you know we arrived on the Gold Coast in August and settled really quickly. We have a nice 3 bed duplex (rental) in a nice area, very quiet in the evenings apart from the odd party or barbie nearby which is cool.
HOWEVER..............we have encountered a problem. We have a lady lives next door (single parent) with her 2 boys approx 6 & 7 years (quite close in age). I have spoken to her and cut some trees back etc that were overhanging her washing area, she seems canny enough. Everything has been fine until the weather has started to warm up. We dont have any air con so our windows/doors are always open.
For the last 2 weeks from 6am till school time and evenings from 4pm ish until darkness, she permanently screams at the kids and I mean screams at them. OK so you have to put up with noise etc I have 2 little ones and I know they make noise and the baby crys etc. BUT she swears at them and they swear back at her. They use the F word, I have heard it prob about 6 times in last 2 weeks, but the screaming is continuous. Now im no snob or anything but this starts at 6am, my little one is up sometimes before that but it is starting to really wear me down. The last two weeks have been tough the baby has been bad and my aunt in UK passed away and things have been hard, and every day I have had to listen to it. I am all for finding out her rental agent (as i know she rents) and reporting her, I dont want to get her in trouble but I came half way across the world for a more relaxed lifestyle and she really is stressing me out (more because I feel sorry for the children being brought up in that kind of manner). M says not to cos we dont want any hassle (which of course we dont).
At the end of the day its nothing to do with me what she does in her own place or how she brings her kids up. but theres no reason why I have to listen to that or my little ones. I only thank god that they are at school all day.
Any advise????? Please...................sorry for the rant!!
Hi Em,
Oh feel for you hun, I would get in touch with the rental company, you dont have to be the one to confront this lol!!! Just phone the real estate up, explain whats happening and see what they say!!!
Good Luck and let me know how you get on, other than that then its time to move - personally I woudnt confront her yet unless you get the opportunity to be friendly, then see how it goes???
Sian xxxxxxxxx
This will give it this week see what happens. Thing is I know that she single parent and it must be hard but she doesnt have them all day as they are at school. Im worried with school hols coming up its going to get worse. Daft thing is we had this problem im the UK (only we owed the house) where you couldnt sit in your garden for listening to the language and blasting music from the chav's behind us. I think its me, i must attract them. Its also very possible that she has no idea that she can be clearly heard, saying that she must hear noise from us from time to time, altho very rarely is there raised voices from us, but Ella runs around shouting and screeching as only 3 year old girls know how lol.
Every day I wake up hoping that its all better but it never is!
I guess the bigger issue and the one you seemed concerned about Em is the effect this is probably having on the children. You may be able to find out from your own rental agent if there have been any problems in the past, maybe a throw away comment next time your chatting about how you keep your doors open because of the air con and you hope she hasn't heard you shouting - it may go over her head but she also may get the message that you've heard her too.
Ali
__________________ I am toopositive to be doubtful, too optimistic to be fearful and too determined to be defeated!
I would try and get this sorted before the holidays can you imagine hearing her for 8 hours plus a day I would honestly chap her door and tell her she is driving you nuts at 6am every morning with her screaming & if it doesnt stop your reporting her. If she really doesn't realise she is doing it then she will stop if she does report her & tell the rental company you want to move as its a bad enviroment for your children.
Janette
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TRA SENT 29TH MARCH 07 APPROVED 27TH APRIL(BRICKLAYER)
25TH JUNE X RAYS & MEDS DONE
9TH JULY 457 LODGED & TRN RECIEVED
11TH JULY X RAYS & MEDS SENT
16TH JULY X RAYS & MEDS RECIEVED AT LCU
26th July OUR DOG FLEW TO PERTH
3RD AUGUST 457 GRANTED
11TH AUGUST BILLY & MARC ARRIVED IN PERTH
14TH AUGUST THE SHIPPERS ARRIVE
23RD AUGUST ME & GARY FLY TO PERTH CAN'T WAIT YAY
BILLY(45) JANETTE(36) MARC(17) GARY(13)
So sorry to hear you’re having this problem with the neighbour now!! I know how nerve racking something like this can be.
I don’t know if we ever told you about it, but before we moved where we are now, Mark and I used to live in a lovely ground floor flat. There was only one more flat above us where a family of 6 lived (parents + 4 children). When we moved in we thought that’s no problem at all, I like a bit of life around me anyway and they seemed very nice. What we did not know at the time was that we were about the 8th people moving into this flat during the past few years. Other neighbours told us that no one ever held out longer than one year.
At first everything seemed ok, the children were quite loud but we had expected this anyway. When it got warmer the whole family started to spend a lot of time in the garden in front of our terrace everyday, which we knew would happen as well. What we didn’t expect though was the way they were screaming and shouting at each other using the worst language. When summer came we couldn’t even sit outside with anyone visiting as they were so loud and their little boy was going absolutely berserk e. g. he always used to run behind his little sister with a knife screaming “I kill you!” etc. and the parents would sit in their chairs laughing.
Well, to cut a long story short: Unfortunately we had to speak to them directly as they rented out the flat to us as subtenants. We asked them really politely if they could be a bit quieter etc., BUT this made it even worse!! That’s when it really started inside the house as well. They made constant noises on purpose (like constantly letting a ball drop onto the floor above our bedroom early in the morning or hitting the piano keys at 7 on a Sunday morning). In the end we had no choice but to move out as our nerves were on the edge. The people moving in after us already moved out after a few months again and so on….
So, if I was you I would not speak to her personally but directly contact the agent or owner. Or maybe you could talk to some of the other neighbours at first and see what they think or if they are aware of the problem as well? She will surely not be happy with you, but maybe it will put some pressure on her and she will start and make an effort to keep the screaming noise down. I know it’s a very difficult situation but rather have her upset than you having strained nerves every day all summer long or worse, having to move out again.
I think the rental company will take nothing to do with it. After all she is not breaching her rental agreement is she? I feel really sorry for this woman, she obviously isnt coping very well. If you really fear for the children I would be calling Childrens Services. I used to work in Social Work and it doesnt always end up worst case scenario for mothers that cant cope. She may not even realise she is doing it so much and if she does realise she may be crying out for help without anyone to help her. Depends on how good natured you are feeling!
__________________
Better to have tried and failed than never tried at all
Why do you feel sorry for her cause she is screaming at her children. Dont get me wrong been there with depression etc but come on why should anyone have to suffer listening to her if shes that bad she will know she needs help & maybe has seeked it. If she hasnt well someone needs to get her help IE report her for her own good. I think calling child services is a bit strong just now IMO give her a warning first. But i still agree now one should have to put up with hearing it every day
Janette
__________________
TRA SENT 29TH MARCH 07 APPROVED 27TH APRIL(BRICKLAYER)
25TH JUNE X RAYS & MEDS DONE
9TH JULY 457 LODGED & TRN RECIEVED
11TH JULY X RAYS & MEDS SENT
16TH JULY X RAYS & MEDS RECIEVED AT LCU
26th July OUR DOG FLEW TO PERTH
3RD AUGUST 457 GRANTED
11TH AUGUST BILLY & MARC ARRIVED IN PERTH
14TH AUGUST THE SHIPPERS ARRIVE
23RD AUGUST ME & GARY FLY TO PERTH CAN'T WAIT YAY
BILLY(45) JANETTE(36) MARC(17) GARY(13)
Last edited by billy braveheart; 27-11-2007 at 03:06 PM.
Why do you feel sorry for her cause she is screaming at her children. Dont get me wrong been there with depression etc but come on why should anyone have to suffer listening to her if shes that bad she will know she needs help & maybe has seeked it. If she hasnt well someone needs to get her help IE report her for her own good. I think calling child services is a bit strong just now IMO give her a warning first. But i still agree now one should have to put up with hearing it every day
Janette
You are contradicting yourself a bit here. You say someone has to report her for her own good. Isn't that what I was suggesting? AND I said it doesnt always end up worst case scenario if someone is reported to Children Services. The phonecall can be made anonymously and this woman may get some help out of it. EM&M said she was a single parent. Maybe this woman has no-one else at all to help her. I have been a "single parent" (such a bad word these days people almost whisper it) and I had help of family and I can tell you its tough.
I totally agree no one should put up with this. I would hate to have this next door to me. But instead of adding to this womans problems by 'having a word' or reporting her to rental companies, why not do something that may be of some assistance to her in the long run, rather than adding to her troubles and making her more stressed thus exasperating the situation and probably making it a lot worse. Childrens Services is not the police or a criminal thing. Its a service there to help people who are finding it hard to cope, which sounds like this woman. IMO only
__________________
Better to have tried and failed than never tried at all
The woman may rent from the same rental agency you do - and causing a disturbance to other residents would breach a tenancy agreement. This may be a long term problem for the woman - she may see nothing wrong with her behaviour at all and if she is volatile with her own children, she may be with someone else. Child services are called DCP - my (limited) experience of them here is very much like the UK it's very difficult for them to get involved and do anything.
Ali
__________________ I am toopositive to be doubtful, too optimistic to be fearful and too determined to be defeated!
I would honestly chap her door and tell her she is driving you nuts at 6am every morning with her screaming & if it doesnt stop your reporting her. If she really doesn't realise she is doing it then she will stop if she does report her & tell the rental company you want to move as its a bad enviroment for your children.
